Comments on: The Cost of Freedom http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/ Home of Noel Heikkinen's thoughts, audio, photos, video, etc. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:14:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: brad http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177513 brad Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:36:11 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177513 Great thoughts. Your post sparked my thinking about individual freedom and the church. Click my name to check it out. Great thoughts. Your post sparked my thinking about individual freedom and the church. Click my name to check it out.

]]> By: jen http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177461 jen Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:27:32 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177461 I agree with Roger. "I think that our problem today isn’t merely taking freedom for granted but losing sight completely about the nature and price of freedom." It's because of God that we are free in America. It's also because our forefathers had such drive and passion for Christ that they endured what they had to in order to win our freedom. Too many people don't understand that freedom isn't free. I think our challenge as Christians in a free country is pressing in to realize how much more freedom there is in Christ, freedom that goes further than the constitution. I agree with Roger. “I think that our problem today isn’t merely taking freedom for granted but losing sight completely about the nature and price of freedom.” It’s because of God that we are free in America. It’s also because our forefathers had such drive and passion for Christ that they endured what they had to in order to win our freedom. Too many people don’t understand that freedom isn’t free. I think our challenge as Christians in a free country is pressing in to realize how much more freedom there is in Christ, freedom that goes further than the constitution.

]]> By: bert boan http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177458 bert boan Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:07:09 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177458 Well said. I think this has implications into our political lives as well. "Christians" get all worried about who is going to win the election when it would be far more positive a thing for the body of Christ if the "wrong" candidate won. (He said skillfully evading commitment to a party) Glad I found the blog Noel. I got here from the problem you were having with sending flickr pics with your phone to your blog. Well said. I think this has implications into our political lives as well. “Christians” get all worried about who is going to win the election when it would be far more positive a thing for the body of Christ if the “wrong” candidate won. (He said skillfully evading commitment to a party)

Glad I found the blog Noel. I got here from the problem you were having with sending flickr pics with your phone to your blog.

]]> By: -jack- http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177314 -jack- Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:27:56 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177314 I don't think I've told you lately but, I love you Noel. I don’t think I’ve told you lately but, I love you Noel.

]]> By: jimmy http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177309 jimmy Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:30:18 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177309 Thanks Noel. Good stuff. Thanks Noel. Good stuff.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177296 Ryan Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:20:37 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177296 I kind of see it as a double edged sword. Sure, evil can flourish in a "free" society, but I think it gives good an equal opportunity as well. On one side we're free to pick what we will be a slave to, and on the other side we are able to reach people from different backgrounds and religions that we normally wouldn't be able to reach in their own country, say Iran or Syria for example. I also think it's better for the gospel to be preached in a secular society then in one where the official religion is forced upon the citizens. No need to tilt the playing field, Christianity can easily win on a level one. I think our challenge as Christians is really to adapt to the changing culture so that we can reach every generation. I kind of see it as a double edged sword. Sure, evil can flourish in a “free” society, but I think it gives good an equal opportunity as well. On one side we’re free to pick what we will be a slave to, and on the other side we are able to reach people from different backgrounds and religions that we normally wouldn’t be able to reach in their own country, say Iran or Syria for example. I also think it’s better for the gospel to be preached in a secular society then in one where the official religion is forced upon the citizens. No need to tilt the playing field, Christianity can easily win on a level one. I think our challenge as Christians is really to adapt to the changing culture so that we can reach every generation.

]]> By: Roger http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177282 Roger Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:31:31 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177282 While there's a truth to consider in what you say, I don't think any place has every had the kind of freedom that we have had here. Nor do I think the growth of Christianity in the United States, over its history, compares unfavorably to any other place or time, except the Apostolic era. I think that our problem today isn't merely taking freedom for granted but losing sight completely about the nature and price of freedom. Many enjoy freedom, perhaps license is the better word, without even comprehending what it really is or how we come to have it. I think the same happens spiritually... People "get saved," then fail to move on into discipleship and maturity, the very problem Paul was addressing in Galatians. Unlike other places who lost their cultures, we seem as much in danger of losing our freedom to the barbarians within as from the barbarians from without. We risk ignoring the assaults from those who hate the freedom we have like those who regard us as "the Great Satan;" we also risk ignoring the assault on the very freedoms themselves from our own leaders who despise both liberty and the God of liberty. EOS--End of Sermon. Sorry. While there’s a truth to consider in what you say, I don’t think any place has every had the kind of freedom that we have had here. Nor do I think the growth of Christianity in the United States, over its history, compares unfavorably to any other place or time, except the Apostolic era. I think that our problem today isn’t merely taking freedom for granted but losing sight completely about the nature and price of freedom. Many enjoy freedom, perhaps license is the better word, without even comprehending what it really is or how we come to have it. I think the same happens spiritually… People “get saved,” then fail to move on into discipleship and maturity, the very problem Paul was addressing in Galatians. Unlike other places who lost their cultures, we seem as much in danger of losing our freedom to the barbarians within as from the barbarians from without. We risk ignoring the assaults from those who hate the freedom we have like those who regard us as “the Great Satan;” we also risk ignoring the assault on the very freedoms themselves from our own leaders who despise both liberty and the God of liberty.
EOS–End of Sermon. Sorry.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177280 Jeff Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:26:16 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177280 Very interesting and thought provoking ideas and comments. I've often wondered why Christianity grows quicker in areas with more persecution than those without. Apathy - an eternity killer. Very interesting and thought provoking ideas and comments. I’ve often wondered why Christianity grows quicker in areas with more persecution than those without. Apathy - an eternity killer.

]]> By: Kate Mazur http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177272 Kate Mazur Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:31:17 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177272 A good word, indeed Noel. Thanks for it. A good word, indeed Noel. Thanks for it.

]]> By: Tory http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177270 Tory Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:43:15 +0000 http://www.noelheikkinen.com/2008/07/04/the-cost-of-freedom-2/#comment-177270 Awesome post Noel. Awesome post Noel.

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